Telephone-switchboard



No. 617,991. Patented 1an. 111, |899. .1. M. ovEsHlNEn.

TELEPHONE SWITCHBO'ARD.

(Application Bled Aug. 4, 1896.)

1N@ Model.)` 2 sheets-sheet 1.

1 l v ...f .f 111111111111111- d 11111111111111111 Patente'd lan. l0, |899.

J. M.A VERSHINER. TELEPHONE SWIT'GHBOARD.

(Application led Aug. 4, 1896.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 Model.)

Y ma ma Nbnms PETERS ca. mom-mno.. wsruuaou, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT ,EErcEa JAMES M. OVERSHINER, OF ELIVOOD, INDIANA.

TELEPHONE-SWITCHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,691, dated January 10, 1899;

Application filed August 4, 1896. Serial No. 601,622. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES M. OvERsHINER, of Elwood, inthe county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone-Switchboards; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in telephone-switchboards, the object of the invention being to simplify and speed the work at the central ofce of answering calls, making connections, dsc.

A further object is to so construct a telephone-switchboard as to economize space.

A further objectis to so construct aswitchboard that the parts thereof can be easily and quickly assembled or disassembled without the necessity of soldering or unsoldering any of them.

A further object is to construct a switchboard in such manner that asingle jack, magnet, and drop can be readily and quickly removed without disturbing any other set of devices or other part of the switchboard and Without the necessity of detaching any wires except the main wire leading to asubscribers instrument.

A further obj ect is to provide means whereby to prevent a drop from falling when a subscriber is being called by the operator at the central office.

Afurther object is to provide means whereby to prevent noise in the receiving instruments incident to the operation of the calling devices.

A further object is to produce a switchboard which shallvbe simple in construction, comparatively cheap to manufacture, and which shall be effectual in all respects in the performance of its functions.

With these objects in view the invention consists in a jack for a switchboard adapted to rock and having a socket for the reception of a switch pin or plug and contact-pins cooperating with said jack.

The invention further consists in the combination, with a jack adapted to rock and a contact-arm thereon, of a circuit including a subscribers telephone and said jack, a circuit including a generator and a contact-post to be engaged by the contact-arm on said oscillatory jack, and a circuit including an operators telephone at the switchboard and a contact-post to be engaged by the contactarm on the oscillatory jack.

The invention also consists in the combination, with a magnet and a drop, of a jack mounted to rock in said magnet and adapted to be included in circuit with a subscribers telephone,a contact-arm on said jack,and two contact-posts to be engaged by said contactarm when the jack is rocked in one direction or the other, one of said contact-posts being included in circuit with an operators telephone and the other contact-post being included in circuit with an electric generator.

. The invention also consists in the combination with a magnet,its armature,and a hinged drop, of a jack mounted to rock loosely in the core of said magnet and adapted to receive a connecting pin or plug.

The invention also consists in the combination, with a jack, of contact-posts to be electrically connected with said jack when the latter is turned in one direction or the other, one of said posts being connected with an operators telephone and the other being connected in circuit with a generator, a drop, a magnetincluded in circuit with a subscribers telephone and said jack, and a switch in said last-mentioned circuit, whereby to open-circuit the magnet when the jack is electrically connected with the generator.

The invention also consists in the combination, with a jack having a socket therein and adapted to be operated to include a generator in circuit with a subscribers telephone, of a switch pin or plug having a forward insulation portion.

The invention further consists in the combination, with a hinged drop for a switchboard, of a block secured to the outer face of said drop, said block being constructed and adapted to serve as a stop for the drop, a weight, and means for returning the drop to its normal position when the plug isinserted into the jack corresponding to said drop.

The invention also consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

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-and adapted to receive a number of small blocks B of hard rubber or other insulating material, each having a hole in its center for the accommodation of the connecting or switch pin or plug, as hereinafter explained. Each block B is connected to a rear block B' of similar size and material by means of plates 1 of insulating material, and said rear block B is removablysecured to the back C of the switchboard by means of screws 2. Each block B supports an electromagnet 3, the block being made in its back with a screw-threaded socket for the reception of the screw-threaded end of the tubular core 4 of said magnet.

A jack 5 is mounted to rock in the tubular core 4 and is insulated therefrom, one end of said jack being split and made with a socket 6, which communicates with the hole in the block B for the reception of the connecting plug or pin. The jack 5 extends some distance beyond the rear end of the magnet and at its rear end is loosely mounted in a socketpiece 7, secured in the rear block B. A contact-arm 9 projects upward from the jack 5, near the rear end thereof, and at respective sides of said arm contact posts or pins 10 11 are secured in the rear block B'. A springarm 8 projects upwardly from the jack 5, parallel with the contact-arm 9,and is adapted to engage insulating-collars 9 on the contact-posts 10 11, said arm serving to rock the jack and move the contact-arm away from the contact-post when said jack is released by the operator. Each pin 10 is included in circuit with an operators telephone 12, located in proximity to the switchboard, and each pin 11 is included in circuit with an electric generator 13,' as shown in Fig. 1. The jacks 5 are included in circuit with the subscribers telephones 14 by line-wires 15, which are electrically connected to screws 16, passing through the back C of the switchboard and entering the socket-piece 7, said screw 16 also serving to assist the screws 2 in supporting the blocks B B', jack, and other parts. One end of the coil of the electromagnet is connected with the jack 5, which passes through it, and the other end of said coil is connected with a contact-pin 17,secured to the rear block B'. An arm 18, having a weighted end 18, is pivoted to the rear block B/ under the jack, and its weighted end normally rests on the pin 17, so as to make electrical contact therewith, said arm 18 being connected with the ground, as shown in Fig. 1. The jack is provided with an arm 18h, having an insulated end 18C disposed under the arm 18,so that when the jack is turned in one direction Vthe arm 18 will be moved out of contact with pin 17.

A plate 19 of non-magnetic material is secured at the rear end of the magnet 3 and provided with ears for the reception of screws 20, in which the armature 21 of said magnet is pivoted to swing, said armature being cut away for the accommodation of the jack 5. A latch-arm 22 is secured to the swinging armature 21, (preferably at or near the upper edge thereof,) the free end of said latcharm passing through a slot in the insulatingblock B.

A plate 24 is secured to the front face of block B (at or near the upper edge thereof) and is provided at its lower edge with ears 23, to which latter the drop 25 is hinged, said drop being thus disposed immediately in front of the block B, just over the socket for the switch pin or plug. The drop 25 is made in-its free edge with a notch 27 for the reception of the latch 22, by means of which latter the drop is normally maintained in its closed or raised position, so as to cover the number of a subscribers line on the plate 24. A block 27 of insulating material andhaving a curved outer face 27b is secured to the outer face of the drop 25, and the lower end of this block is made Hat, so as to form a shoulder or stop 27C, whereby to limit the downward movement of the drop and cause it to assume a horizontal position when released, the weight of said block serving to insure the falling of the drop.

It is apparent that when the magnet is cnergized the armature 21 will be moved, the latch-arm raised, and the drop released, thus permitting the latter to fall to a horizontal position and display the number on the plate 24, at which time the block 27 will be immediately over the socket for the switch-pin. Vhen the connecting or switch pin is inserted into the socket in the jack, the shoulder 27 l of said pin will engage the curved face of block 27 and the drop will be forced up and automatically locked in its normally raised or closed position.

An arm 28 projects from the block B and is provided at its free end with a shoulder 29, to be engaged by the drop 25 when the latter falls, said arm 28 being electrically connected with a pin 28 in the rear block B' by a wire 281. The drop is electrically connected with a pin 28c by a wire 28d, and said pins 28 and 28c are included in circuit with bell 30 and battery 8l, the purpose of said bell being to attract the operators attention at night when a drop falls.

An L-shaped arm 32 is mounted in a hole in the block B and loosely connected with the free end of the latch-arm, so that when a subscriber calls the central office the L-shaped arm will be vibrated rapidly and serve to at tract the attention of the operator.

The connecting or switch pins or plugs 33 are preferably at or angular in cross-section and will be electrically connected together in IOO pairs by flexible conductors in the usual manner; but I propose to insulate the forward portion of one of said pins or plugs of each pair, as at 34, for a purpose which will presently appear.

In order to provide simple and efficient means for connecting the various contact posts and wires with the circuit-wires on the back C of the switchboard, said contact-posts and the pins to which the bell-wires are connected are made to project a short distance through the back block B and to engage buttons rc, secured to the back C, said buttons having the various circuit-wires connected with them. It will be seen that when a jack and attached parts are placed in position and the screws 2 passed through the back C and made to enter the rear block B' the latter will be drawn toward the back C and the contact posts and pins made to tightlyr engage the but-tons a; and effect good electrical contact.

It is apparent that any jack and all of its cooperating parts can be readily removed Without detaching any wires (except the main circuit-wire) by withdrawing the screws 2 and the screw 16. Each jack and all its connections and cooperating parts are arranged in compact form and are carried by the frame comprising the blocks B B and connectingplates 1, and said frames are supported by the back C.

Vhen a subscriber calls the central oflce, one of the drops will be released, as above explained. The operator will then insert a connecting or switch pin or plug into the jack (at the same time forcing the drop back to its raised position) and then rock the jack to the right until the contact-arm 9 thereon engages the contact-post lO, thus switching the operators instrument 12 into circuit with the subscribers telephone. After ascertaining the number of the subscriberwanted the operator will insert the pin at the other end of the flexible cord or conductor into the jack which communicates with the telephone of the subscriber to be called; but the operator will only insert the insulated portion of this pin into the jack. The second jack will then be turned to the left by means of the switch or connecting-pin and the generator 13 will be switched into circuit with the instrument of the subscriber being called. By insulating the forward portion of the switch-pin the noise in the telephone of the calling subscriber incident to the operation of the generator will be effectually avoided. When the second subscriber shall have been called, the operator will push the switch pin or plug in to the full extent and allow the jack to return to its normal position with the contact-arm 9 between the contact-posts 10 11. The two subscribers instruments will then be electrically connected together.

When the subscribers are through talking and operate their signaling apparatus, the L-shaped arm 32 will be rapidly vibrated, and thus the operators attention is called and he is thus notiiied that the subscribers are through with the use of the lines.

Vhen the jack is turned to include the generator in circuit with the instrument of the subscriber being called, the pivoted contactarm 18 will be raised from the contact-pin by means of the arm 18h, and thus the circuit through the magnet will be opened and the drop will be prevented from being released and falling while the generator is in circuit for the purpose of calling a subscriber.

By constructing a switchboard in the manner above described the devices connected with the respective subscribers lines are compactly arranged', occupying a minimum amount of space.

My improvements are very simple in construction, comprise few parts, can be easily and quickly assembled, can be readily repaired, and are eectual in all respects in the performance of their functions.

Various slight changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is-

1. A telephone-switchboard comprising a. series of combined drop devices and jacks, each comprising in a single structure, a magnet, a drop, a latch device for the drop, aA rocking jack having a socket in its end for the reception of a plug and contact-pins cooperating with said jack.

2. The combination with a magnet and a drop, of a jack mounted to rock in said magnet and adapted to be included in circuit with a subscribers telephone, a contact-arm on s'aid jack and two contact-posts to be en-y gaged by said contact-arm when the jack is rocked in one direction or the other, one of said contact-posts being included in circuit with an operators telephone and the other contact-post being included in circuit with an electric generator, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a magnet, its armature and a hinged drop connected with said armature, of a jack mounted loosely to rock in the core of said magnet and adapted to receive a connecting or switch pin or plug, and contact-pins cooperating with said jack, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a magnet having a hollow core, of a jack mounted to rock in said hollow core and adapted to receive a switch-pin, a drop hinged in front of said magnet and jack, and contact-pins cooperating with said jack, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a magnet having a hollow core, and an armature at the rear end of said magnet, of a jack mounted to rockin said hollow core and adapted to receive a switch-pin, a drop hinged in front of said magnet and jack, a latch secured tothe armature and adapted to receive the drop whereby to normally retain the latter in its raised position, and contact-pins cooperating with said jack, substantially as set forth.

G. In a switchboard the combination with two blocks and plates connecting said blocks, of a magnet secured to one of said blocks, a jack mounted to rock in the core of said magnet and also mounted in the other block, and contact-pins to be engaged by said jack, substantially as set forth.

7. In a switchboard, the combination with a jack adapted to rock and a contact-arm thereon, of contact-pins to be engaged by said contact-arm, insulating-collars on said contact-pins, and a spring-arm on the jack to engage said insulating-collars whereby to prevent electrical contact of said springarm with said contact-pins and cause electrical contact between the contact-pins and jack to be broken when the latter shall have been rcleasled by the operator, substantially as set fort S. The combination with a jack having a socket therein, of a drop hinged in front of said jack, and a block secured to said drop, said block constituting a stop for the drop, a weight and means for returning the drop to its normal position when the plug is inserted into the jack, substantially as set forth.

9. In a switchboard, the combination of two blocks and strips connecting said blocks, a magnet, and a jack mounted between said blocks, contact-pins projecting through the rear block, a switchboard-back and buttons secured to said back and adapted to be engaged by said contact-pins, and means for securing said rear block to the switchboardback, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with a jack adapted to rock and to receive a switch-pin, of contactposts arranged at the respective sides of said jack, one of said contact-posts being included in circuit with an operators telephone and the other contact-post being included in circuit with a generator, a contact-arm on the jack to engage said contact-posts when the jack is moved in one direction or the other, and a spring-arm secured to said jack so as to engage a contact-post when the jack is turned in one direction or the other and act to force the contact-arm away from said post when the jack shall have been released by the operator, substantially as set forth.

ll. In a switchboard, the combination with a frame and a series of blocks secured thereto, of a magnet secured to each block, an oseillatory jack mounted in said magnet, a drop supported in front of said magnet and jack, a plate secured to the rear end of the magnet, an armature pivotally supported by said plate, a latch-arm secured to said armature and adapted to engage the drop, contact-posts at the respective sides of said jack, a rear block, plates connecting said blocks, a socketpiece in the rear block, in which the end of the jack is mounted, a contact-arm secured to said jack and adapted to engage said contact-posts when the jack is oscillated in one direction or the other, and means for removably securing the rear block to the back of the switchboard, substantially as set forth.

l2. The combination with a magnet, its armature, a drop, and a latch attached to the armature and adapted to engage the drop, of an oscillatory jack, a switch included in circuit with said magnet, a contact-arm on the jack, a contact-post to be engaged by said contact-arm, said contact-post being included in circuit with a generator, and an arm depending from the jack and adapted to open said switch whereby to open-circuit the circuit through the magnet when the contactarm on the jack engages the contact-post including the generator, substantially as set forth.

13. In a switchboard, the combination with a magnet and a drop, of an armature for said magnet, a latch-arm secured to said armature and adaptedto engage the drop, and a looselypivoted arm connected with said latch-arm and adapted to be vibrated when the latcharm is vibrated, whereby to attract the attention of the operator, substantially as set forth.

1l. In a switchboard, the combination with an open frame and a back, of insulated blocks supported in said open frame,insulated blocks removably secured to said back, plates connecting said blocks a magnet and a jack mounted between said blocks, a drop supported by one block and contact-posts supported by the other block, and a connection between the armature of the magnet and the drop, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with a jack, of a drop hinged at its lower edge abovethe socket of the jack and adapted to swing downwardly and assume a horizontal position, electromagnetic devices constructed to maintain said drop normallyin its raised or closed position, a block or enlargement on the outer face of said drop adapted to overhang the jack-socket when the drop falls to a horizontal position, and a plug constructed to engage said block or enlargement and return the drop to the latch devices, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination with a jack and a block or head at one end thereof, of a drop hinged at its lower edge to said block at a point above the socket of the jack, an enlargement on said drop adapted to overhang the jack-socket when the drop falls and a plug constructed to engage said enlargement when it is inserted into the j ack,whereby to return the drop, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with a jack having a socket therein, of a hinged drop adapted to assume a horizontal position when it falls, a block or enlargement on said drop adapted to overhang said socket when the drop falls, electromagnetic devices for retaining said drop in normal position and a plug having a IOI handle or shoulder to engage said block or enlargement and return the drop, substantially as set forth.

1S. In a switchboard, the combination with a support and contact devices attached thereto, of a series of structures, each structure comprising a frame and jack, drop devices and coperatin g contact devices supported by said frame and fastening devices passing through the support to independently and removably secure each structure to the support with the respective contact devices in j uXtaposition.

19. In a switchboard, the combination with a support and contact devices attached thereto, of a frame, the switch and drop devices for a subscribers line supported by and attached to said frame, contacts secured to said frame and electrically connected with said switch and drop devices, and a fastening device securing said frame to the support so as to canse the contact devices on the frame to engage the contact devices on the support, said fastening device serving also as a contact device for a subscribers line.

20. The combination with a spring-jack, of a series of contacts connected to a supportingpiece associated with said jack, a series of 0pposed contacts connected with a supportingpiece to which the jack is attached anda screw engaging both of said supporting-pieces whereby to hold the contacts on one supporting-piece in engagement with the contacts on the other supporting-piece, said screw also constituting a connecting device for a subscribers line-Wire, substantially as setforth.

2l. In a switchboard, the combination with a support and contact devices attached there- J AMES M. OVERSHINER.

Witnesses ARTHUR V. OvnRsHINER, W. Y. OHAPIN. 

